RI officers probed for making kids do pushups

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Four North Providence police officers are being investigated for making five boys do push-ups as punishment for damaging a mailbox.

Friday's incident was videotaped by a neighbor and posted online. It was first reported by WJAR-TV.

Acting Police Chief Paul Martellini says a woman called to report her mailbox was damaged.

Officers then pulled over a car full of teenagers.

Mayor Charles Lombardi tells WPRO-AM the officers thought the best way to reprimand them was for them to do push-ups on the side of the road.

He says officers took the law into their own hands and calls it unacceptable. Lombardi wants the officers suspended.

He tells the station, "You can't fix stupid. I think that's the only explanation here."

Martellini has ordered an internal investigation.